Mobile operators are viewed by their subscribers as being predominantly responsible for protecting them from a range of security threats, to which subscribers are increasingly vulnerable as the penetration of smartphones and mobile broadband rises, according to a new report from Informa Telecoms & Media.

Informa's Mobile Operators' Consumer Mobile Security Strategies report
found that mobile operators are partnering with security software providers to
provide their subscribers with parental control capabilities, as well as
protection against threats such as malware, phishing, fraud, spam and the theft
or loss of their device. For example, Tier-1 operators such as Vodafone, Orange
and Telefonica are partnering with vendors such as McAfee, Lookout Mobile
Security and F-Secure, in multiple markets.

"The growing penetration of smartphones and mobile broadband has led to the
situation where subscribers are finding themselves at risk from a range of
potential threats, particularly smartphone subscribers with Android devices,"
said the report's author, Pamela Clark-Dickson, senior analyst, Mobile Content
and Applications at Informa Telecoms & Media. Android-based devices were
forecast to comprise the highest share of the 1.02 billion smartphones sold
globally in 2013, at 63%, or 643.6 million devices, according to Informa's
Future Mobile Handsets Interactive Forecast Tool, 2012-2018 (August 2013).
Hackers inevitably target exploits at the widest possible addressable market,
and Android is doubly a target because it is based on an open-standards
operating system, which makes it easier for hackers to penetrate.

For example, subscribers are increasingly installing applications on their
devices, some of which may contain malware. There is also a growing trend
towards mobile subscribers storing more sensitive data on their smartphones,
such as payment details, which unauthorized third parties could potentially
access and then use to commit fraud or theft. The increasing sophistication of
smartphones also makes it easier for criminals to prey on the vulnerable,
particularly children.

Mobile operators are viewing the provision of consumer mobile security
services as part of their corporate social responsibility programs, as opposed
to just offering a revenue-generating service. For example, mobile operator
Orange's recent announcement of its partnership with Symantec states that
protecting children from internet-based risk is one of its eight CSR priorities.
Typically mobile operators are offering consumer mobile security services under
a two-tier model: a free package containing basic protection, and a premium
version for which the operator charges a small monthly fee.

Mobile phone retailers are also starting to view the consumer mobile security
market as an opportunity to partner with security software vendors. For example,
The Cellular Connection, the US Verizon Wireless distributor, has partnered with
security software vendor NQ Mobile to provide Verizon Wireless subscribers with
anti-virus and parental control software.

Meanwhile, the mobile security software vendor market is split between
PC-first security software vendors and mobile-first security software vendors.
The first group includes companies such as McAfee, F-Secure, Kaspersky and
Symantec, while Lookout Mobile Security and NQ Mobile are the most successful
mobile-first security software vendors in terms of partnerships with mobile
operators.

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